Stereoscope



I Feb. 19, 1924."-

A. CMUTSCHELLEFQ STEREOSGOPE Filed Oct. 10 .4 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARTHUR /YUTSCHEL/.IER'

Patented Feb. 19,A 1924.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFl-cE.

ARTHUR MUTSCHELLER, 'OF YORK, N'. Y., ASSIGNOR' TO WAPPLER ELECTRIC CO.,

y Y INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.` I

s'rnanoscorn Application filed October 10, 1919. -Serial No. `$297,797.

To all whom t may concern Beit known that I, ARTHUR MU'rsoHEL- LER a citizen of the United States residing at blew York, county of New Y7ork, and Statey of New York, have' invented certain 'new and useful Improvements in Stereoscopes, of which Ithe following is a full, clear, and concise description.

My invention relates to stereoscopes, and more particularly to stereoscopes of. the kind using plates of large size, spaced apart.

-Morel particularly stated, my invention comprehends va stereosco e of the type just mentioned andV in whicli I so `mount the stereoscope head, carrying a pair of mirrors 1 or the equlvalent. thereof, as. to render the able relatively to each other.

one form of flexible standard for permitting adjustments of the stereoscop'e head.

Fig. 3 is a'fragmentary -section somewhat similar to Fi .12, but showing a different form of lexib e standard than that appearing in Fig. 2, @y for permitting the adjustments. s

-Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the parts showny in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmenta plan showing the mountings for the stan fard used for supporting the stereoscope head, the standard appearing in section.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, -partly in front elevation and partly broken away, of another form of my device in which the stereoscope head is made in halves adjust- Fig. 8 is a section on the vertical widely? 112, 13. .The

lwardly extending portion 35,

central line of Fig. 7, looking in the direction indicatedv by the arrows at 8-8.

Fig. 9 is a section on the same line of Figure 7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows at 9 9. l

1 Table legs are shown at 6, 7 and 'may if desired be adjustable as to length. Braces 8, 9, are connected with the table legs, and extend therefrom to a pair of rails 10, 11. These rails are made preferably of angle iron and are connected together by end ieces -rails are provided with ange portions 14, 15, as shown more particularly vin Fig. 45, these flange portions together serving as a track or way. Cross pieces 16 extend from one of therails to the other and serve to brace the rails.

The parts thus far table of the 'stereoscope A pair of carriages are 18, and in thisinstance have each the form of a lat block. Each carriage is provided with wheels 19 which support it-and which rest vupon the track or way consisting of two flange portions 14, 15, ofthe rails.

Resting upon the carriages 17, 18, are the illuminating boxes 20, 21. These are provided with window frames 22, 23, and backings 24, 25,- the window frames and backings together serving as vplate supports. Each illuminating box `is adjustable relatively to the kcarriage upon which it is mounted, so that the plate carried by the box can be brought intopositionsuitable for described constitute shown at 17 and v enabling it to be viewed the best advanxtending across the .table vare two guide bars 26, 27, which are supported by brackets 28, 29, these brackets being secured upon the rail. Slidably mounted upon these supportng'bars are two bearings 30, 31, each of cylindri :al form, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. Connected rigidly with the two bearings 30, 31, is a pedestal 32. `Each bearing 30, 31, is preferably integral with the pedestal. The bearings are provided withhandles 33, 34.

The pedestal 32 is provided with an'uphaving 1n this instance the form of a rather 11a-t neck. standard 36 having the form of a Hat bar andprovided with a'slot 37, extends vert cally through the pedestal 32 with its neck 35. A bolt 38 exteniis through a hole in the wall of the neck '35 Aand is provided with a head 38a of the form shown more particularly in Fig. 6. The head 38a and the standard 36 are so shaped relatively to each other that the bolt .is unable to turn relatively to the standard. Fitted upon the bolt is a Wing nut 39. The operator by turning this wing nut may tighten it relatively to the neck '35, and by turning itin the opposite direction may loosen it. By first loosening the wing nut the operator may adjust the standard 36 vertically in relation to the pedestal 32, and the adjustment being completed he can tighten the wing nut and thus'leave the parts ali'ected firmly fixed in position as thus adjusted. The standard 36 at its top end is provided with a hole 40 of substantially cylindrical -form as indicated in Fig. 2. A set-screw 41 extends through the adjacent wall of the standard, and into the hole40. A plate 42 is provided with a reduced portion 42 of substantially cylindrical form, adapted to fit neatly into the hole 40. The portion 42a is provided with an annular groove 42", into which the point of ythe set-screw 41 may extend, asindicated in Fig. -2.` The stereoscope head appears at 43, and is carried by the 'plate 42. vThe stereoscope head 43 is provided with a cen- -ter post 44 and with a back 45. A set-screw 46', having a reduced threaded portion 47,

, is carried by the center post 44 and extends through a hole 48 in the back 45. The plate 42 extends through a hole 49 in the bottom of the stereoscope head 43. The stereoscope mirrors are shown at 50, 51, and are carried by the stereoscope head. Between these mirrors is a center piece 52 of substantially semi-cylindrical form. The stereoscope head is provided with blinders 53, 54 of the usual or any desired form.

Located between the plate 42 and the center part 44 is a friction plate 42e, made of sheet Celluloid. Theset screw 46 is in practice turned just enough to clamp the friction plate firmly but not tightly so that vthe operator without touching the set screw 46 can grasp the stereoscope head and turn it in either a clockwise or a contra-clockwise direction, reckoning from the position of the operator as he stands normally facing the stereoscope.

The operator by loosening the s et screw 41 can turn' the stereoscope head upon an axis extending vertically or substantially vertically, that is, the operator can turn the stereoscope head upon the axis ont the cylindrical portion 42a of the plate 42. This done, he tightens the set screw 41 and by so doing he secures the stereoscope'head firmly in a new positlon. In practice, however, it 1s seldom or never necessary to disturb theset screw 41. because with a little care in adjusting the tightness of this screw the joint readily operates as a friction joint, so that the operator can merely grasp the stereoscope head and turn it by using very little exertion.

Between the two adjustments, one associated with the setl screw 46 and the other with the set screw 41, the operator can give the stereoscope head 43 practically any adj ustment desired in any direction. Thus the mechanism for affecting the adjustments thus contemplated is the equivalent of a universal joint.

Tn the Figs. 3 and 4, I show mechanism differing slightly from that appearing in Fig. 2, for the purpose of accomplishing the adjustments. The center post 44 is mounted upon a plate 55 to which it is secured by a set screw 46 having a reduced threaded portion 47. The plate 55 iits against a friction plate 42e, of the kind above described, and .is provided with a hemispherical bearing 56 carrying a retaining ring 57 secured upon it by screws 58. The bearing with its retaining ring constitutes a socket which lits upon a ball 59. This ball is carried by a stem 60 which is secured upon the top of a standard 61 provided with a slot 62 and having a generalpurpose similar` to that of the standard '36 above described.

The ball and socket joint enables the stereoscopic head to be adjusted into an infinite variety of positions. It is therefore seldom or never necessary to adjust the plate 55 relatively to the center post 44, but nevertheless this` can be done if desirable by'merely loosening the set screw just mentioned.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 I show another form of my device, in which the stereoscope head is made in halves,` one of which is adjustable relatively to the other.

A standard is shown at 63 and supports the weight of the stereoscope head. The standard has in this instance the form of a flat bar-of the shape indicated in Figure 7, and is provided with a slot 64 by and whereof the standard, and parts carried thereby, may be adjusted vertically.

A set screw 65, similar in form lto the set screw 46 above' described. engages and extends through the upper end of the standard 63, and supports thereon a block 66, constituting practically one half of the stereoscope head. A frictionplate 63a similar in form to the friction plate 42e above described, is disposed between the upper end of the standard 63 and the adjacent portion of the block 66. This block may by hand be turned or adjusted relatively `to the standard 63 in the manner above described for the block 44 in its movement relatively to the standard member 55.

A shaftrf extends through a hole in the the pin 7 extending 4'outwardly therefrom, as

indicated in Fi re 7.

A block 72, o a general form matin that of the block 66, is rovided with a s ot 73 into which the ping more particularly in Figure 7. The stereovsco e mirrors are shown atv 50a, 51".

he block 66 carries a metallic plate` 74, sunken into it and held in position by screws 75, as shown in Figure 7. A bolt 76 extends through a hole in the plate 74, and is provided with a head 77 against which the plate 74 is held tightly. e

The block 72 carries a plate 78, sunken into it and having a form similar to that of the block 74, and similarly held in position by screws 79. The block 72 is furtherv provided with a slot 80. Located within this slot,4and revolubly mounted u on the bolt 76,' is a nut 81, the bolt being t readed for this purpose.

The weight of the block 72 is supported upon the bolt 76, which thus acts after the manner of a trunnion. The operator, by slightly turnin the nut 81` at intervals, can adjust the freeom of movement ofthe block 72 relativel to theblock 66.

' The bloc 80 and 66 are provided with blinders 82, 83.

The block 66 being stationary, the operator by grasping the knob 68 and rocking the shaft 66 can cause the block 72 to rock 0r t-urn slightly upon the bolt 76, which thus acts as a pivot. Thus the block 72.is adjustable angularly in relation to the block 66, upon the pivot just mentioned, and the adjustment is very exact yand under control of the operator.

The stereoscope head as a whole is adjustable angularly in relation to the standard 63, since'the block 66 carries the block 72, and may by hand be turned or rocked upon the set screw as a center.

The various parts notshown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 have the structure and action above described with reference to the other figures.

The operation of my device is as follows:

A pair of plates being selected and placed against the backings 24, 25, and being either trans-illuminated, illuminated by reflected light, or illuminated in any other suitable manner, the plates are brought as nearly as racticable into proper adjustment-by turnmg the illuminating frames 20, 21, upon their carriages 17 18, and by moving these 0 extends, as indicated' carriages' toward or from the Istereosco e head, 1n the manner above described. T e operator now places his face adjacent the stereoscope head and views the plate by looking directly into the mirrors 50, 51, in the usual manner. He next makes the adjustments above described in detail, and byso doing brings the two images into exact optical coincidence.

It should be noted in this connection that the stereoscope plates, even when carefully placed in position ,seldom or never coincide exactly without some change in position or some adjustment being made. This is because great exactness is required and because without perfect coincidence of the images as seen by the operator the stereo Scopical effect is jgreatly impaired. `It is found in practice that adjustment is desirable, even when the plates are to allsuperficial appearances, in correct position.

I do not limit myself to the precise mechanism shown, as variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention.` Neither do I limit myself to the particular form of stereoscope here shown, no r to any special use for which the stereoscope ma be employed, nor in every instance to t e use of a stereoscope.

The scope of my invention is commensurate with my claims. Y

I clalm:

1. The combination, with a pair of supports for stereoscopic objects to be viewed, of a stereoscopic head divided into separate parts, one for viewing each object, one of said parts being adjustable relativel to the other, in a (predetermined plane, sai stereo:-4

scopic hea as a whole being adjustable bodily in a. plane crossing ,the plane first mentioned.

2. A device of the character described comprising a standard, a stereoscopic head mounted upon said standard, means for suplportin stereoscopic plates orv the like arrange in pairs and adjustable relatively to each other for enabling the operator to place them in predetermined relative positions so that they may be viewed by aid of said stereoscopic head, and means for tilting said stereoscopic head bodily in relation to said standard and to said stereoscopic plates'.-

3. The combination of av pair of supports for stereoscopic Vobjects to be viewed, a stereoscopic head provided with a pair of mirrorsl disposed at an angle relatively to each other ,for the purpose .of enabling the operator to view said stereoscopic objects, and means for adjusting said mirrors relatively to each other and tosaid pair of supports.

4. The combinationl of a pair of supports for holding stereoscopic objects to be viewed, a stereoscopic head rovided with a pair of mirrors inclined re atively to each other and by aid Whereot` said stereoscopic objects are to be viewed, a mounting for supporting said stereoscopic head, said stereoscopic relatively to said stereoscopic objects, and means' for holding said stereoscopic head in different positions into which it may be turned in order to adjust said mirrors relatively to each other and to vsaid stereoscopic objects. 4

5. In a. stereoscope the combination of a pair 'of illuminating boxes, a table for supy porting the same, a stereoscopic head disposed between said illuminating boxes and carrying a pair of mirrors inclined relatively to each other, means for slidably adjusting said head relatively to said illuminating boxes, mechanism controllable at the will of the operator for turning said stereoscopic head into different angular positions head being revolubly adjustable inseam;

of adjustment relatively to Said illuminating boxes, and mechanism for supporting said head asy thus turned into di'erent angular positions of adjustment.

6. The combination of a pair'of illuminumber of planes relative to said illuminatf' ing boxes, means' for supporting said headv as thus turned into dii'erent planes, and a pair of mirrors carried by said stereoscopic Ahead and associated with said illuminating boxes, said mirrors as a unit being adjustable by the adjustment of said stereoscopic head.

ARTHUR MUTSCHELLER.4 

